Bulgaria Ski discussion board

PP thought you were going to avoid getting involved in this debate

Whilst there are two 'camps' on this issue, the law is still that parents have the right to take their child out of school for up to 2 weeks in a year, although this is likely to be recorded by a school as unauthorised absence. If a child has good attendance for the rest of the year, the Educational Welfare Officer would not take the parents to court.

Outdoor pursuits is on the National Curriculum but many schools struggle to cover this. Children doing PE GSCE can use skiing/boarding as one of their excellence sports.

In an ideal world, children would all have 98-100% attendance but not everyone can provide quality time with their children in school holidays for various reasons. Many parents are working very long hours either to provide or to try and ensure that they keep their jobs at the moment. I know people who are afraid to take their full holiday entitlement in case they are not seen by employers as dedicated.

Parents who don't ensure that their children attend for the rest of the year are the ones who are holding them back and are the ones that are likely to have action taken against them.

Many on here appear to be responsible parents who are keen to widen their children's opportunities and want to spend time with them rather than leaving them behind and going off on 'no kids' holidays. They all seem to weigh up their decisions carefully and responsibily. I think it was Pat's 'tone' that upset so many.

thought i would just add something i was told by the head teacher at my kids school today- They called me in to ask if i would help with pre skiing preperations, organising a dry slope day etc before their school trip to France in March an all that. The head teacher said providing the kids attendances at school are good then they welcome, inded think it is great, that the kids are away getting physical activity, learning a sport we can not do in our local area, and appreciating another cultures way of life- they said its much preferable to asking for a holiday for a week to laze by a pool!.
My daughter is getting top grades at school and my Son is doing ok- Both i would expect to be in good employment- not stacking shelves, but if that is how they end up, as long as they are well and happy ill be happy. Im no snob and spending quality time together doing what we all enjoy is all too short- they are not kids long- i fully intend to take them out of school next year if its too expensive between Christmas and New year, and allready have the schools ok (them knowing i will not be taking them out any other time etc).